Circuit closer for automobile rear lights



Oct. 6, 1931. L. E. OBEE 1,325,917

CIRCUIT CLOSER FOR AUTOMOBILE RE AR LIGHTS Filed Nov. 4, 1929 Fig.1

Patented 0a. a, 1951.

men a. 0mm or wmanousn. omo

cmcprr cnosaa FOB AUTOMOBILE am nears Application fled lovember '4,1988. Serial No. 404,579,

This invention relates to a light adapted to be used at the rear end ofautomobiles, and particularly to means for automatically closing thecircuit to said light, whenever the gears are shifted to reverseposition, in order to illuminate the roadway to the rear or to provide awarning signal to drivers in the rear.

, The object of the invention is 9 device of the character stated, whichis adapted to be mounted on a gear shift housing of the usual t pc insuch position that the gear shifting sli e, as it is moved to reversegear position, will directly engage and actul ate means for closing acircuit through the matic mechanism is provided for closing the circuitwhenever the gears are to position for backing.

The preferred embodiment of the invention will be more particularlyexplained in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fi ure1 is a sectional view of a gear shift houslng with the inventionoperatively associated therewith.

Fi re 2 is a sectional view taken substantlally on the line2-2 of Figure1.

Figure 3'is a perspective view of the gear shift slidewhich actuates thecircuit closer.

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view show- I ing the connection of theinvention with the gear shift housing.

Figure 5 is a detail view ment.

The invention is shown in connection with a gear housing 7 containingthe transmission gears 8 and having a cover 9 which constitutes theshifter housing. The gears are shifted through the medium of slides 10,g each having a notch 11 selectively engageable by a gear shift lever12.

In carrying out my invention a spindle 13 is slidably mounted in thegear shift housing with its inner end in advance of the front end 14 ofthe shifter slide, which actuates the re verse gear and in alinementtherewith. The front or outer end 15 of the spindle 13 is turnedupwardly and is connected by a coil spring 16 with the stem of a switch17. This of the switch eleto provide a switch is contained in a box 18having ter- I minals 19 towhich are connected conductor wires 20. One ofthese wires may nected throu h theign battery and t e other conne therear end of the automo up the roadway rear warning signal thrown intoposition trated in Figure to bridge the terminals 19 but is normally 27.The specific conheld open by a spring.

h, however, 15 immastruction of this switc 5, the switch terial to thepresent invention.

In order to mount the spindle 13 in the tudinal slidin is surrounded y pof the bushing. the spindle in held against the packing dle is movedrearwardly,

light. Thus. an eflicient and reliable autog Shift i g, h 2 the latterfor receiving a which the spindle 13 is moun movement. The spindle 13acking 23 at the outer end 1 washer 24 is mounted on front of thepacking and is whenever the spinby a cotter pin 25- be conition switchto the cted to a light at bile for lighting at the rear or providing awhen the gears are for backing. As illus- 17 is adapted 1 is provided inbushing 22, in

ted for longior other suitable means carried by the spindle.

In the operation 0 switch 17 is held normally open by the spring 27except when the gears are verse position.

held in its innermost position 16, with the packing 23 ing 22 by thewasher 2 pe of oil from the gear slide 10 in the rear 0 to reverse gearposition, gaged by the front end advanced, while the spring 16resistance of the spring switch 17 thereby closing the light.

f the spindle 13 the spindle 13 is enf my invention, the

shifted to re- The spindle 13 is normally by the spring held against thebush- 4 so as to prevent any housing. As the v is shifted the slide andovercomes the 27 and closes the the circuit through- From the foregoingdescription it will be seen that my invention may be readily applied toany type of gear shift housing. The

switch 17 will always are in reverse position,

beclosed when the gears but if the circuit is taken through the ignitionswitch, it will not be complete unless closed. Various course may be usthe ignition switch is other-types of switches of ed instead of theswitch 17 F the switch,

without afiecting the operation of the invention. Various othermodifications may also be made without departing from the scope of theinvention as claimed. o

What I claim is:

i. The combination with a gear shift slide and a housing therefor, of alight controlling switch mounted on the upper face of the housing, sprinmeans norma 1y 0 rable to o n and a longitudinally slide le memberextending thr ugh the housing in position to be advanced by the slide asthe iatter is shifted to operative position, said slidsble member havingan upturned end connected to the switch to close the latter when saidmember is advanced.

2. The combination with a gear shift slide and a housing therefor, of alight controlling switch mounted on the upper face of the housing,spring means normally, operable to open the switch, a longitudinallyslidable member extending through the housing in position to be advancedby the slide as the latter is advanced, said slideble member having anupturned end, and spring means connectin said upturned end to the switchand opera le to close the latter in opposition to the first mentionedspring means when said slidable member is advanced.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name to this secification.

. EON E. OBEE.

